PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nelli Kuukeri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fu Manchu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kuukeri
vs
Manchu

193 cm
22
280 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

191 cm
32
250 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Condemned
Valhalla Q160 Nutrition

Condemned

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nelli Kuukeri!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fu Manchu!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shirou Masuda and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kuukeri fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Manchu sprawls well initially but Kuukeri persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Manchu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kuukeri is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Manchu regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kuukeri.
Manchu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kuukeri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manchu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuukeri postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kuukeri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Manchu is trying to keep Kuukeri in close.
Kuukeri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manchu swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manchu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kuukeri is controlling him.
Kuukeri trying to control the position from guard on top but Manchu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manchu wants to sweep but no luck.
Kuukeri chips away with some ground and pound.
Kuukeri forces his way into half guard.
Kuukeri is pressing down on Manchu's thigh, looking to free his foot. Manchu is holding on for now.
Kuukeri winds up and cracks Manchu with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kuukeri wants to control but Manchu is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuukeri is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Manchu reverses the position - he's now on top in Kuukeri's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Manchu is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Manchu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manchu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Manchu wants to stand but Kuukeri is controlling his posture from full guard.
Manchu throwing strikes from guard but Kuukeri blocks nicely.
Manchu postures up.
Manchu trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuukeri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manchu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manchu is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Kuukeri escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Manchu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Manchu got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kuukeri has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Manchu has managed to get both his arms back between Kuukeri's legs - danger averted.

Kuukeri throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Manchu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuukeri is trying to keep Manchu in close.

Kuukeri had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Manchu defends it easily.
Kuukeri is trying to control the position but Manchu postures up.
Manchu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Manchu chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuukeri trying to keep a closed guard but Manchu is proving a slippery customer.
Kuukeri has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manchu connects with a couple of short punches.

Kuukeri working for a triangle but Manchu defends it easily.
Kuukeri keeping moving, preventing Manchu from controlling successfully.
Manchu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kuukeri avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Manchu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Manchu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuukeri is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Manchu looking to pass the guard.
Manchu trying to control but Kuukeri is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nelli Kuukeri dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Manchu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kuukeri manages to avoid it.
Kuukeri has his takedown stuffed
and Manchu counters with a nice uppercut.
Kuukeri doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Manchu counters with a left to the body.
Kuukeri doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Manchu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nelli Kuukeri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manchu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kuukeri shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kuukeri gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Manchu.

Kuukeri closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Manchu quickly recovers to half guard.
Kuukeri prevents Manchu from standing back up.
Kuukeri is keen to just control but Manchu is a slippery customer.
Manchu wants to get back to his feet.
Kuukeri lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manchu wants to get back to his feet.
Manchu works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nelli Kuukeri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Manchu keeping moving, preventing Kuukeri from controlling successfully.
Kuukeri tries to free his leg and advance position but Manchu is retaining full guard.
Kuukeri is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kuukeri tries to free his leg and advance position but Manchu is retaining full guard.
Kuukeri preventing the sweep.

Manchu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kuukeri gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kuukeri content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuukeri trying to control but Manchu is working from the bottom.
Kuukeri trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuukeri stopping the sweep attempt from Manchu.
Kuukeri cracks Manchu with a solid left hand.
Kuukeri lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manchu working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuukeri.
Kuukeri sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Manchu's guard.
Manchu pushes Kuukeri off looking to stand but Kuukeri dives back in and keeps control.
Kuukeri performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manchu wants to stand back up but Kuukeri manages to pass into side control.
Kuukeri trying to control the position but Manchu is working away.
Manchu manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kuukeri's best efforts.
Kuukeri tries to pass the half guard into mount. Manchu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kuukeri trying to control from Manchu's half guard. Manchu has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Kuukeri postures up in Manchu's guard and throws a big left but Manchu blocks it.
Kuukeri landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Manchu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kuukeri doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kuukeri manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Manchu wants to get back to his feet but Kuukeri passes into half guard.
Kuukeri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Manchu's head.

Manchu makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Manchu missing with a left hand there. Kuukeri was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kuukeri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Manchu.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuukeri swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Manchu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manchu just misses with a punch to the body.
Manchu throws a big shot that misses.
Manchu throws a series of punches but Kuukeri avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nelli Kuukeri dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Manchu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kuukeri moves away.
Kuukeri shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Manchu but Manchu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kuukeri tries for a takedown but Manchu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Manchu as Kuukeri shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nelli Kuukeri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuukeri takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nice takedown defense from Manchu. No joy for Kuukeri on that attempt.
Manchu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuukeri.
Kuukeri shoots and misses
and Manchu counters with a three punch combo that has Kuukeri backing up. Kuukeri nods at Manchu to acknowledge the strikes.
Manchu moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuukeri throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Manchu's waist but Manchu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kuukeri off to one side.
Manchu with a hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuukeri fails with a takedown attempt.
Kuukeri takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Manchu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manchu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kuukeri loads up on a big right hand but Manchu slips the punch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Manchu enables Kuukeri to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Manchu manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kuukeri tries to free his leg and advance position but Manchu is retaining full guard.

Manchu has his foot on Kuukeri's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kuukeri works his way back into a safe position though.
Kuukeri tries to free his leg and advance position but Manchu is retaining full guard.

Kuukeri avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kuukeri passes Manchu's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kuukeri passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Manchu!
Manchu is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manchu is looking to improve his position but Kuukeri isn't that keen on the idea.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kuukeri punishing his opponent with strikes.
Manchu wants to control but Kuukeri is having none of it.
Kuukeri looking to finish Manchu with some ground and pound. This is bad for Manchu!
Kuukeri putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kuukeri fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Manchu is in a horrible position here. Kuukeri smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

It looks like Fu Manchu has been cut.
Kuukeri with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukeri lands a big elbow.
Kuukeri won't let Manchu get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Kuukeri working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Manchu is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Kuukeri landing punches.

Manchu is rocked!
Manchu is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kuukeri is landing with some decent strikes but Manchu is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Manchu is still in real trouble! Can Kuukeri finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
You get the feeling that Manchu really doesn't like being in this position too much.
BOOM! Kuukeri connects with a massive shot to the dome!
A big strike lands for Kuukeri! That's really hurt Manchu and he's turned his back - Kuukeri keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Kuukeri jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nelli Kuukeri!
Nelli Kuukeri retains his heavyweight title!